Qbe-separator



PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. ARMITSTEA), 0F PROVO. UTAH..

01m-sername Speeiflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application ied November 23, 1918. Serial No. 263.888.

To all whom it may concer/L Be it known that I, JonN E. Ainurrs'rnno, a citizen of the -UnitedStates, residing at Provo, in the county of Utah and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful 0re- Separator, of which the following is a specili tation.

This invention has reference to ore separators, and its object is to recover metal from quartz or gangue by either `{lot-ation or preciiiiitation lor both Without waste ol any olllorid values that the ore may contain.

The invention provides means whereby the water or other liquid employed muy be used repeatedly until it ultimately becomes too slimy for further use, when the liquid may be drawn off into a container as fresh liquid is turned on. The means employed comprise, among--otlier things, a. concentration tube or cylinder associated with other ore preoipitation'tubes or cylinders, all having conveyor coils arren ed to carry the gangue or pulp through t e tubes or cylindrs, provision bein made for recovering the precipitates an the floating material with the ultimate return of the li uid employed to areceiving tank from W ich the liquid is again directed through the apparatus.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of tbe'following de tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with theunderstanding, however, that the invention is not confined to anystrict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modiedso long as such changes and modi` cations merk no materiel departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended cloims.

In rho druwingsz v Figure 1 is a side elevation, with some parts broken away and in section, of a portion of an orebconcentrator embodying the invention.

Fig. 1a is a View similar to Fig; `1 and forming a continuation of the apparatus therein shown. Y

Fig. 2' is e plan view with some parts in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

'FigfQ is a pien View of the structure hown inFig(v B, with some parte in secion.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section` on a larger scale than the preceding figures, of a precipitation tank for th final treatment of the material leaving` the conveyors.

Fig. 4 is a section on the linev tv/l of Fig. l but omittingr distant parts.

Fig. is a longitudinal diamciric section through a yieldable joint between the meeting endsl ol" the innermost or main conveyor tubes or cylinders.

Fig. ll u section on tln` line (lwtl oi' Fig, fshoxvingf a baille but omittingA certain other parts.

Fig. i is a side elevation, partly broken away and in longitudinal section, of the dis chargeH end of a triple tube construction forming part of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section onthe line 8*-8 of Fig, 7. omitting distant parts.

9 is asection on tho line 9--9 of Fig. l drawn on a larger scale und omitting distant parts.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a main frame composed of uprights 1, lungi tudinal beams 2, 3 and tanks 4, supported bv and joining members ot the main frame. (..onstituting a continuation of the tank 5 is another tank 6, containing alternately arranged bailes 7 and adischarge tube or pipe 8, for the final treatmentof the liquid reaclrl ing it.

Aboi e one end of the tank 5 and. entendn ino,r lengthwise of 'said tank for an appron priate distance is an inclined tube or cylmder 9 having exterior circumferential guide rings l0 near opposite ends. The cylinder 'or tube 9 at points close to the respective guide rings is carried upon supporting rollers 11, best shown in Fig. 4, these rollers be ing in turn carried by saddle bars l2 fast to beams 13 extending lengthwise of the cylinder or tube 9. The beams 13 and cylinder 9 have un inclination toward the receiving end of the cylinder 9 and the corresponding ends of the beams 13 are supported by a yoke or hunger 14 carried by a screw rod 15 extending through a bar 16 carried at the ends by brackets 17 fast to neighboring 'hosts or uprights l ofthe moin frame. und wheel 18 with an appropriately threaded hub 19 applied to the threaded rod liiorms a convenient means whereby the high end of the tube or cylinder Q may be moved up and down and the inclination of the tube 9 bo matters are conveyed by The other end of the cylinder or tube 9 is hingediy supported by hangers 14 carried by pivot pins 14" mounted on the adjacent uprights 1 at about the height of the top of the hinged end of the tube 9. as best Shown in Fig. 4.

The inner wall oi' the tube 9 is provided with helical ribs 20, preferably though not necessarily in triplicate, so that the ribs are relatively close together but at the same time of relatively long pitch. These ribs Serve as conveyer ribs for material lodged between them and the direction of rotation of the tube 9 is such that the material is carried from the lower portion of the tube toward the upper portion thereof and ultimately escapes Vtroni the upper end of the tube, which end is open. be tank 5 immediately beneal h the open upper end of the tube 9 is provided with a receptacle 21 normally closed by a gate 22 so that the discharge from the upper end of' the tube 9 collecting in the receptacle 2l may be removed therefrom, from lime to time, by opening the gaie 22.

Leading into the upper end ot the tube 9 is a pipe 23 coming from a charging hopper 24 into which pulverized ore or gangue is fed, and also leading into the upper end of the tube 9 is a jet pipe 25 continuing through the tube for the greater portion of its length and provided with peri'orations 2U so that atei or other liquidilowing through the pipe 25 the tube 9 to wash away the gangue from the heavier metals which are deposited on the inner bottom wall ofthe tube 9 between the ribs 2U. The metals thus washed free from other the ribs 2() to the upper end of the tube 9 and fall therefrom iito the receptacle 21. The )ipe 25 is provided with a valve 27 Wherey the flow of liquid info and through the pipe may be controlled.

Continuing through the separator from the lower end of the tube 9 to about the other end of the tank 5 is a group of concentric tubes 2S, 29, 8U. The tube 28 is of a diaineteicorresponding to the tube 9 and forms a continuation thereof. The tube 28 abuts the tube 9 but at a slight angle thereto, the tube 28 being rotatable about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, while the tube 9 slants at a small angle to the horizontal and inclines away from the tube 28. The lower end of the tube 9 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 31 and the adjacent end f the tube 28 has a similar inturned flange 32. The flanges are annular flanges and the Harige 31 is provided with a tubular extension 33 so arranged and of such axial length as to at all times project through the Bange 32. The tube 9 carries a lock member 34 entering between ears 35 on the tube 28. The lock member 34 is in the thereby adjusted.

is delivered in jets into 'ruote from the tube form of a pivoted finger vhaving an elastic extension 'between the ears 85 in spite of changing relations oi' the adjacent ends of the tubes 9 and 2H. The arrangement is such that the tube 9 may rotate about a slanting axis and the tube 28 may rotate about a horizontal axis without pulling the tubular flange 33 from projection through the fiar )e 32, the linger 34 imparting motion from one tube to the other so that when one tube is rotated by power the other tube participates -in the rotative movements. Liese to the flange 32 the tube 2S is provided with an annular baille 37, such baille being spaced from the inner Wall of the tube 28 by legs or projections 38 so that7 while overflow from the tube 9 entering the baille 37, the liquid and materials carried thereby may find ready escape between the baffle and the inner wall of the tube 28.

T he three tubes 28, 29 and 30 have interior helical ribs 39, 40 and 41, respectively. These ribs are all similar to the ribs 29 of the tube 9 and are triplicate ribs having the same spacing and pitch in all the tubes. However, the pitch of the ribs 39 is opposite to that of the ribs 20, the pitch of the ribs i9 is opposite to that of the ribs 39 and consequently pitch of the ribs 20, While the pitch of the ribs 4l is opposite to that of the ribs 40. Consequently, with the tubes all rotatin in the same direction concentrates engage by the ribs 20 in the tube 9 are caused to travel up the tube to the upper discharge end thereof and fall into the concentrate hopper 21. Material escaping over the ledge formed by the flanges 31 and 33 is received into the tube 28 and the precipitates are engaged by the ribs 39 and are caused to travel lengthwise of the tube 2H to that end thereof re 9 where the precipitates tall from the end ot the tube, which is open, and fall into the tube 29 and are carried by the ribsl 40 toward the tube 9 to be discharged adjacent to the tube 9 into the corresponding end of the tube 30. What heavy corresponds to the direction of- :36 tending to maintain the linger tube 28 is arrested by the materials there may be" are carried the ribs 4l along the tube 30 to the disc arge end thereof, falling from this tube into the tank 5 and into a hopper 42 communicating with and depending from the tank 5 beneath the discharge end of the tube 30, from which such heavy matter constituting tailings may be withdrawn from time to time' by opening a gate 43 provided for the purmse.

I (.)n the exterior ofthe tube 30 near opposite ends thereof are annular ribs 44 engaged by rollers 45 similar to the rollers 11, such rollers sustaining the tube BOnear 0ppositie ends thereof and the ribs 44 and rollers 45 preventing longitudinal movecentrating tube having means for feeding ore thereto and and means for directin liquid into the tube, another substantially horizontal tube connected to the lower end and forming a continuation ot' the firstnamed tube, and a flotation tank into which the second-named tube dips.

4. ln an ore separator'. an inclined con centrating tube having means for feeding ore thereto and means for directing liquid into the tube, another substantially horizontal tube connected to the lower end and forming a continuation ot' the first-named tube, and a flotation tank into `which the second-named tube dips, the first-named tube having interior means for propellingr material therein toward the high end of the tube and the second-named tube having means therein for propelling material toward that end of the tube remote from the first-named tube.

5. In an ore separator, an inclined conhorizontal tube connected to the lower find of and forming a continuation of the inclined tube, other tubes concentric with and spaced from and connected to the seconrbnamed tube, and each smaller tube receiving the material at one end and discharging it at tbe other end into the next larger tube, all the tubes having means therein for propelling material in respectively opposite directions lengthwise of the tubes, and a flotation tank into which the concentrically arranged tubes dip.

6. ln an ore separator, a flotation tank, a tube for gathering concentrates located above and dipping at one end into the tank and provided with means for propelling concentrate toward the other end of the tube to discharge therefrom, and a series ot' conccntrically arranged tubes with the iuncrinost one connectecl to and forming a continuation of the first-na1ned tube, said series of tubes being arranged horizontally and dipping into the flotation tank through their length and also provided with means for propelling material in successively in re spor-tively alternate directions through the concentric tubes.

T. l'n an ore separator, a flotation tank, a tube for gathering concentrates located above and flipping at one end into the tank and provided with means for propo ling concentrates toward the other end of the tube to discharge therefrom, and a series of concentrically arranged tubes with the innermost one connected to and forming a continuation of the firstnamed tube. said serie,V of tubes being arranged horizontally and dipping into the flotation tank through their length and also provided with means for propelling nuitcrial through the tubes in oppositj directions, said llotatlon tank beim! prowided with a rcccptzu'le for corn .-entratcs in position to receive from the site first-named tube ings in position named tubes.

S. In an ore separator, a flotation tank, a tube for athering concentrates located above and tipping at one end into the tank and provided with means for propelling concentrates toward the other end of the tube to discharge therefrom, and a series of concentrically arranged tubes with the innermost one connected to and forming a continuation of the first-named tube, said series of tubes being arranged horizontall and dipping into, the flotation tank throughy their length and each provided with means for propelling material in a direction oppo` to the next larffer tube, said flotation tank being provided. with a receptacle for concentrates in position to receive from the first-named tube and a receptacle for tailings in position to receive from the lastnamed tubes, and said flotation tank being provided with a continuation having baflles therein to produce a tortuous passage for liquid received into the continuation from the flotation tank.

n an ore separator, a flotation tank, a baille tank forming a continuation of and receiving from the flotation tank, concentrating means leading into the flotation tank, and tailings-conveying means rereiving from the concentrating means and located in the flotation tank.

l0. In an ore separator, a flotation tank, a baille tank forming a continuation ot' and receiving from the flotation tank, concentrating means leading into the flotation tank, and tailings-conveying means receiving from the concentrating means and located inthe flotation tank, said tailingsconveving means having means for directing material back and l'ortli therein while immersed in the flotation tank.

l1. In an ore a baille tank forming a continuation of and receiving from the flotation tank, an inclined rotatable concentrating tube associated with the dotation tank and dipping at the low end into said tank, said concentrating tube having means therein for prnpelling concentrates toward the high end` of the tube to discharge therefrom, and a plurality of rotatable concentric horizontal tubes dipping throughout their length in the flotation tank, said plurality ot' tubes having interior means for propelling material and a receptacle for tailto receive from the lastseparator, a flotation tank,

therein lengthwise of the tubes and in a neueren clined concentrating tube, e horizontal tube forming u continuation of the inclined tube and receiving from the lower end of the letter, and means for varying the inclination of the inclined tube.

13. In un ore separator, n rotatable in clined concentrating tube, :t horizontal tube forming a continuation of the inclined tube and receiving from the lower end of the latter, and means for varying the inclination of the inclined tube, said means comprising e. pivoted support for the lower end of the inclined tube with the ivotni axis near the top portion of the tu und :uljusting means carrying the high end of the tube.

14. In an ore separator, un inclined rotem table concentrating tube, und n horizontal rotatable tube forming a continuation of the inclined tube und receiving therefrom, said inclined tube having n neck enteringv the horizontal tube und seid horizontal tube having a baille adjacent to the neck in the path of material discharged from the neck.

15. In un ore separator, un inclined rote.A table concentrating tube, n horizontal rotuteble tube forming a continuation of und receiving from the lower end of the inclined tube, and a slidnble driving connection between the two tubes where meeting, whereby to compensate for the angular relation of the axes of rotation of the two tubes and to transmit rotative movement from one tube to the other.

16. In an ore separator, a. main frame, an inclined supplemental frame pivotnlly hung at one end and at the other end provided with nd'ustable means connected to the main frame or varying the tip of the supple mental frame, rollers carried by the supple mental frame, and a rotatable tube carried by the rollers and provided with means for causing material within the tube to be propelled toward the high end of the latter.

17. In en ore separator, n main frame, an inclined supplemental frame pivotally hung at one end and -at the other end provided with nd'usteble means connected to the main frame or varying thetip of the supplemental frame, rollers carried by the supple rnentol frame, anda rotatable tube carried by the rollers und rovided with means for causing material within the tube to be propelled toward the high end of the letter, said tube having means for feeding ore thereinto, und n pipe extfmding length-v wise of the tube for directing liquid upon orc de' osited in the tubo.

1R.. i un orc scpurotor, a rotatable inclined conifentrnting tube, a flotation tank into which thelower end 0f the tubi dife@ und n ilurality of substantially 'iuirieomni roteteb e tubes also dipping into the flote tion tank und in concentric relation to euch other with the innermost tube constituting o continuation o1 the concentrating tube und connected thereto, all the tubes having 1nterior heiicul ribs with the trend of the riie of euch tube opposite to that of the next tube in order. l

19. In en ore separator, a rotatable concentrating tube provided with n. coutinuw tion.l the concentrating tube having interior moans for propelling material therein to- Werd the end of thy` tube remote from the continuation and seid mntinnntion haring interior menne for propelling motorini to werd the end of the continuation remote iront the concentrating tube.

2o. 1n un ore separator, a rotntnblc con centreting tube for receiving materiel at one end end delivering it et the other end and provided with interior Ineens for propelling eoncentrntcn toward the receiving end of the tube, sind :mother tube forming n. contimlue` tion of the firsbnemed tube and rotatable therewith und provided with interior menne for ropeiling motoria] received from the first tube toward the end oi the second tube remote from the first tube.

2l. In un ore separator, n. series of concentricI tuboseuch having interior means for propelling materiel therethrough in succession with the direction of pro ulsion in each succeeding tube opposite to tliat of the pre` cedingv tube` 22. In nn orc separator, a series of con centric tubes in diametrically spaced reinu tion, each tube having interior menne for propelling material therein from one end toward the other, the direction of action of the propelling means being opposite in each tube from the action of the propelling means in the next` tribe in order.

23. In en ore Separator, a series of three concentric tubes in diametrically speer-d reV lation, each tube having helically :wronged Ineens for propelling material deposited in the tube from one and thereof toward the other, the trend of the propellingr menus in .eech tube being opposite to the trend of the propelling means in the next tube in order.

In testmon that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I inve hereto affixed rhy signature.

UHN E. RMITSTR l?.

Witneeeee n limone ifi. GRAY, Louis. 'Irzoiursorn 

